Comfortable home in the heart of Brussels' African district (mins away from EU quarter!)
Apartment • Ixelles Belgium
2 Guests
2 Bedrooms
1 Bathroom
Wheelchair accessible
Primary home
Exchange types accepted
Simultaneous
Non-Simultaneous
Non-Reciprocal & Globe
Hospitality
Statistics
Listed July 2024
Views 212
General overview
Brussels, Belgium. Not a huge city, it is mostly known as the general headquarters of the European Union. When politics meet the land of comic books (Tintin? The Smurfs, anyone?) fries, shellfish and a bit of art nouveau, and street art scattered around the city here and there. Plenty of forests and countryside in its surroundings - the Ardennes are just a train, car or even a cycle ride away. Plenty of museums (Magritte museum: a must-see for art lovers!) and activities for all age groups all year round. A stunning Christmas destination too, with Christmas markets, concerts and yes, sometimes there's snow!
But in my view Matonge is something else. An absolute must-experience for anyone visiting the capital. Named after a known area of Kinshasa due to the influx of many Congolese students in the 1950s, this district presents a blend of African and other cultures constantly buzzing and full of colors, noise, music and food.
When I moved here four years ago, I was in a very dark place, dealing with a lot of pressure mentally and having to make a lot of big fast decisions. Little did I know I had just made the best investment: I invested in community, warmth and comfort as well as location! If there is anything I have learned that everything can be solved with a smile or asking for help. The Matonge community will never leave you alone, always be at hand to help - and, oh the vibes are just so much fun always!
The area is also extremely well connected with Brussels city centre and EU quarter. And if you feel like getting out of the city, well, it is very simple to reach the nearest train stations (Gare Centrale and Gare du Midi) for a day trip in the beautiful towns of Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp (in Belgium) or a hike in the Ardennes (Dinant, Bastogne). It is also possible to go to Spa (easiest with a car): the world's original spa resort, which is also the venue for the Belgian F1 Grand Prix. Paris France is also less than 1 hour away by train, as are Aachen- Germany (Christmas markets!), Maastricht and Amsterdam- Netherlands and Luxembourg!
A must-see for all the historians out there: the Battlefield of Waterloo and museum: 32 min by car, 1h12 by public transport.
I also recommend visiting a monastery: Belgium has many, and all are hidden in the countryside! Abbeys of Orval and Chimay to name a few: not only are they well known for history/spiritual life but also for their production of trappiste beer and local cheese!
The space
My home is a warm place. This home is the perfect balance of vibrant and quiet/homey.
When I moved here I really tried to make it colourful and bring good vibes - it goes with the generally quirky nature of the Matonge district!
I have recently redone my kitchen by taking a wall down and adding an island in the middle - it really has opened up the kitchen/living room space.
The living room overlooks a busy street with cafes with African cuisine. At times the street can get very musical - from African beats, to live jazz and more (especially in the summer!)
I personally love to open my windows and listen to it (no terrace unfortunately - hopefully that will be my next investment!).
However in case the music does get a bit much: the bedrooms on the other side of the house are, on the contrary, well insulated and have never not guaranteed a good night's sleep ;)
What else can we add? It is a small flat - 80m2, so honestly I think the living space is the selling point! The rest is rather basic and standard for a childless home-owner with a long-distance boyfriend (at least for now :))
I have one double bedroom and a smaller room which - I'll admit - is purely functional and I keep it locked most of the time. However the smaller room can be converted to a guest bedroom by opening the single armchair bed. There is a lamp and a chest of drawers in the small room too.
Guest access
The apartment is on the third floor and there is a smart elevator. All doorways are wheelchair accessible!
Notes
I have a couple of plants, grateful if you could water them :)
Features
Washer
Dishwasher
Clothes dryer
Oven
Microwave
Coffee machine
Fridge
Iron
Hair dryer
Heating
Air conditioning
TV
WiFi
High Speed Internet
Bathtub
First aid kit
Wheelchair accessible
Smoke alarms
Fire extinguisher
Bed sheets
Towels
Workspace
Fireplace
Home cinema
Toys
Gym
Sauna
BBQ
Pool
Hot tub
Balcony
Garden / yard
Deck / patio / courtyard / terrace
Covered porch / verandah
Kosher home
Meat-free kitchen
Gated community
EV Home Charger
Bikes
Camping gear
Kayak
Tennis court
Standup paddleboard
Travel Styles
Long term
Weekend
Budget
Romantic
Foodie
Relaxing
City
Hiking
Cycling
Last minute
Good public transport
Ukraine support available
House rules
Suitable for infants under 2
Suitable for children ages 2-12
Pets not allowed
No smoking
Allergens
Cat free
Dog free
Smoke free
Fragrance free
Dates of Availability
This member has chosen to hide this section from Non-Premium members.
Neighbourhood
I do not exaggerate when I say that within a 300m radius you can get everything from all retail, to cafes, clothes/vintage shops, coffee places, pizza, burgers, restos, post office, launderette, cinema and bus and metro stops.
My street is a pedestrian corner with pretty much only bars and cafes, including Soleil d’Afrique and Cap d’Afrique. A little further down the road there is also a sushi and pizza place. Round the corner (rue de la paix) includes more restaurants (including Belgian, Italian), smash burgers and past the church on your left (pretty and quaint St Boniface) you’ll find a row of vintage second hand shops and a tiny comfy coffee place called Fika (very good quality coffee!)
Nearest airport
Zaventem (25 min by car, 35-45 by bus)
Getting around
Everything one may need is literally walking distance (if you like to walk!!) or a bus/metro ride away
Nearest metro/subway: Porte de Namur (5 mins)
Nearest park: parc royale (7-8 min walk)
Nearest market: place Flagey on Saturdays (20min walk or 4 min bus ride)
Nearest supermarkets: Delhaize (3 mins), Carrefour (5 mins) Lidl (5 mins)
Nearest station: Gare Centrale (15 mins)
Bus stops: St Boniface (3 mins) Tron (6 mins)
ATTRACTIONS
Magritte museum: 12 min walk
Grande Place: 25 min walk, 15 min bus
Place St Catherine: 29 min walk, 21 min metro
House of European History
Parlamentarium (History of the European Parliament): 11 min walk
Parc Cinquantenaire/EU quarter: 20-25 min walk
DAY or WEEKEND TRIPS: Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Dinant, Bastogne (trains from Gare Centrale)
Spa: no direct connections via train (2hr40), via car 1h30min
Orval abbey: 3hr20 by train, 2h30 by car
Chimay abbey: 1h38 by car, 3h by train
Battlefield of Waterloo: 32 min by car, 1h10 by bus/train
Map of Approximate Location
This member has chosen to hide this section from Non-Premium members.
Feedback
This member has chosen to hide this section from Non-Premium members.
People Like Us is the world's most trusted home exchange community. We believe in sharing, trust, generosity, respect, communication, equality, cooperation, honesty, hospitality, friendship, flexibility and adventure. We take pride in our homes and we care about the environment in which we live: our village, city, country and our planet. We care about the ethos of home exchange and we do it because we love the experience and the friendships that it generates.